Divinity Atlas

Sacred Correspondences
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This page groups denominations by whether they still have living adherents today. Wikipedia notes that the Mandaeans "are the last surviving Gnostics from antiquity," a denomination-like religious group reduced to a small surviving remnant. Browsing this way lets a visitor tell a thriving denomination apart from one that has nearly died out.

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What Defines This Grouping
The two principal orders of Jainism and the traditions within them, separated over monastic discipline - above all whether the fully renounced ascetic wears clothing - over whether a woman can attain liberation in a female body, and over which early texts are canonical. 2
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Denominations 1
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The orders of Jainism

This small group holds the two principal traditions of Jainism, the ancient Indian religion of non-violence (ahimsa) and asceticism. The historic division concerns monastic practice and doctrine, above all whether the fully renounced monk wears clothing.

The browser will find the Digambara (sky-clad) and Svetambara (white-clad) traditions, which differ over monastic nudity, the status of women's liberation, and the canon of scripture. The entries describe each and the questions that divide them.

Practice Status
Sources
1. Divinity Atlas Directory Taxonomy, First Edition Category Tree
2. The Jains
Paul Dundas, Routledge, 2002View the Source
Divinity Atlas Directory Prose, First Edition Category Descriptions
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